Gas meter



CCL-28, 1930. H CHRISMAN 1,779,901

GAS METER Filed June l5, 1923 2 Sheets-Shea?l l Il lll/110,

FIG- 2. 8

/NVE/VTR MWL Kham WITNESS H. CHRISMAN Oct. 28, 1930.

GAS METER FIELB.

Patented Oct.jl28, 193() UNITED isrA-TEs f ji i 1,779,901

PATENT ,o-F'Fvlcr.l 'v

nonnen cHRrsMAN, or nnenwoon, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNon, kBY MEsNn AssIGN- rIVILEN' TS, TO PITTSBRGH EQUITABLE METER COMEANY, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYL- vANrA, A ooaroRA'rroN @PENNSYLVANIA eras METER 'Application filed .Tune 15,

for an object to producea meter simpler in construction and more durable in operation than meters now in use and knownv to me.'

A further object is to produce an improved meter which is of simple construction, easy to assemble and disassemble and accurate, and durable'in operation.

^ A further object is to produce an improved gasmeter which is relatively cheap to build, simple to vassemble and which is smaller for a given capacity than similar meters now in use and known to me. l

l These and other objects, which will be made Vaccompanyingand forming apart hereof. Y

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of a meter'embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a fragmental view of a detail `of my invention, Fig. 3 is a view of the meter illustrated in Fig. 1, as it appears with a side cover and a diaphragm removed, and Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional view in the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

As illust-rated, the meter includes a casing 5, which is provided withthe usual gas passages.- As shown the casing is divided into two metering chambers 6 and 6 bya centrally located partition wall 7. Asis customary, a bellows diaphragml'O is located in each chamber and is provided with diaphragm heads 11 and 12. l

A feature of my invention resides in these diaphragm heads and the means employed for securing the bellows or diaphragm thereto. The diaphragms 10 areof the usual construction, each being so formedr that, with its associated heads, it encloses av substantially cylindrical chamber. Y' l Heretofore, it has been the usual practice to solder a metal ring to the outer edge of each head, to which the bellows is secured. This procedure is lobjectionable because ofthe cost of the solderingoperation and alsofbecause the soldered joints are likely to leak, either because .of faulty, workmanship or because 19a-3flsemi No. 645,543.

of strains and attendant wear occasioned by i the operation of the apparatus. l

.l/Vith my invention Ieliminate these diiculties by forming an integral vannular flange 13 at the outer edge of each'diaphragm head. Thisfmay be accomplished by stamping, spinning, or otherwise forming each head with an integral flange thereon. V Each flange 13 is'of surchrshape andV isso located with relation to the-head on which it is formed, that the annularV bellows or 4diaphragmV is secured thereto in the manner heretofore employed in connection with the separate rings to which I have referred.

f The diaphragm with the headsV attached are locatedV in the meter chambers and,.as is usual, one head of each diaphragm is secured to the 'partition wall 7 whereas the other head is secured to a guide wire 14 and to-lag wire 15. The guide wire is pivotally-mounted on the casing 5 inthe usual manner and is secured in the usual manner to a guide wire carriage 16, with which lthe head is provided. Another Vfeature of my invention is' the means employed for securing the diaphragm heads 11Y to the partition wall 7 of the. casing.

. As isjusual this partition wall is `provided meansof spiders which arevnot only sepa-Y rately formed, but aregalsodetached from the diaphragm heads until the spiders are secured in place onthe partition'wall, at which time they clamp the diaphragm-head in position on the partition. v v 1 This arrangement of apparatus is objecl tionablesince it makes the operation ofsecuring the diaphragm in place on the partition a diliicult one, and-it also renders the operation of `disassembling the apparatus for the purpose of repairs, a very diiicult operation. In carrying out my invention I rigidly secure spider 17 to the diaphragm head. This may be accomplished by soldering the outwardly projecting circumferential flange 1S `of the spider to the 'inner edge of the head in such a way that the spider in effect forms the integral part of the head andvencircles the port formed therein. vWith such an arrangement the diaphragm head 11 and the spider are secured to the partition wall 7 as a unit, thus obviating the diiiculty encountered in separately positioning the head and in separately securing the spider in place ,on the partition and in clamped relation with the head.

' 'As illustrated the spider 17 is secured in place on the wall 7 by means of a screw 19, which engages a tapped aperture Jformed in a boss 20 of the wall, thereby forcing the circumferential iiange` 18, with the head attached, into contact with the circular iiange 24. The operation of inserting this screw through the spider and of screwing it into theaperturedboss is diicult, particularly where the diaphragm and its heads are assembled prior to installation' in the meter casing.: l It is also a diiiicult operation to remove the screw 19, in case it is necessary toremove the assembled diaphragm for the lpurpose of repains, since the screw is likely to drop into the measuring chamber enclosed by the diaphragm, and occasion some ldifficulty in being recovered. To obviatefthese diiiculties I secure the screw to the spider, but in such away that it is capable of being turned freely for the lpurpose of screwing it into the receiving aperture formed in the boss 20 of wall 7. As illustrated the shank of each screw isthreaded throughout a part of its length and is provided with a transversally extending aper-- ture'21, at a point 'intermediate the head and the Vscrew threaded'portion. A pin, similar to a Cotter pin, is inserted through thistransverse aperture after the screw has been inserted through thescrew receiving aperture formed in the spider'. This holds the screw loosely but permanently in place in the spider and the screw 19, thespider 17 and the diaphr'agm'v head 11 are not'only assembled as a unity, but they arey secured Yto the partition 'Zas a unit and thereis no' chance ofthe screw dropping out and giving 'difficulty during the operation' of assembling or disassembling the Ine-ter. Y

i TheH diaphragm headsl 11,v are each provided with the usual centering or positioning pins 11,'wliich engage corresponding, apertures formed in 'centering or positioning bossesv 7a formed on the partitionwall.

Ordinarily the gas passages'of the partition wall 7 are superimposed, one on the other and "arefssparated by means oiga partition wiiieiieatends in the saine direetio'n as' the partition wall 7.-"f Thisiconstruction increases tiisdspth of tifs meter-by' atleast tiiewidth of one such passage, and also increases the cost of construction, due to the coring operation. meter and also reduce the liability of leakage bylocating the gas passages of the partition wall side by side so that they are separated by a web or partition which extends at rightv angles to the general directionv of the partitionk wall 7. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, the partition wall 7 is provided with two vpassages 22 and 22", located side by side, with relation to the wall and separated one from the other by means of an intermediate web or partition 23 which extends at right angles to the general plane of the wall 7. This results in a material saving iny overall depth of the meter casing and otherwise Asimplifies the construction. It also simplifieslthe cori'ng ing bad or porous casting. Y.

, As shown the passage 22 terminates in a port 24,. which communicates through one of theV spiders 17 with one ofthe' measuring chambers enclosed' by a `diaphragm and its associate heads. VThe other passage 22 is pro'- vided' witha port which communicates with the other diaphragm enclosed measuring chamber and which isfoppositely disposed with relation to the port` 24'. In' the usual constructionV these' oppositely disposed ports `aresing-ned with each other. With the con operation and reduces the liability of produc- Y struction illustrated the ports are preferably semi-circular as shown in Eig. 3 and are stag'- geredv with lrelationtof'eac'h other'. Each of these' semi-circular ports is" provided' around its circumferential' edge with a flange 24', which is cciitiniied tdfoim a 'circular' flange or shoulder as shown invFig. 3, and onv which the co-operating spider 17 is seated, as shown in'f'Fig. 1. This arrangement provides cen-` ti-a1 and uniform distribution 'ci the gas to and from each of the measuring chambers', and also simplifies the construction. n

Anotlieri feature of my invention is the means employed for securing the iag wire carriage 16 in piace en each head 12. As illustrated each head is provided with an annular nut 26, which is soldered or otherwise rigidly securedtov the head so that vit encircles a central aperture formed therein. As shown inwdotted lines in Fig. v2 each nutQGis providedfwith outwardly extending lugs 27 which `are provided'with tapped bolt receiving apertures adapted to ,receive carriage holding Vboltsv 28. These ,boltspass through the carriage, and ythe head and 'are screwed into the'nutl As. shown the lugs 27 are so situated that.,theylstraddlethe plane of the' flag' vwire .15, with the result that easy access isprovided to the bolts 28' on eitherlsideiof the wire. n `V VThe .operation of the' meter embodying myfi'nvention is vthe/saine as that of old nieteroi the same' type.Ai The nag wires conf trrt'he tperatioiiffofthe metering val-yes' I am able to reduce the size of the so that gas is alternately directed-.tof-each measuring chamber, enclosed 'by the diaphragms and each measuring chamber formed'within the'casing' and locatedexterior of the. diaphragmsrGas is first delivered'to the interior chamber throughthe communication passage 22, and then is discharged from that chamber Vthrough the same passage, movements of the diaphragm being guided by the associate guide wire '14. The meteris ot course provided with theJ usual valve and registering mechanism and the casing is provided with the usual -cover plates to facilitate assemblingfa-nd disas sembling of thefentire meter.v s f "f` YVhile I. have described but one embodiment' of my invention'itfwill be apparent that various changes, additions, `modifications. and 'omissions may-be made in'V the apparatus illustrated without dep artin'gfrom the spirit and scope of my invention as set v forth by the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In combination in a meter, a casing having a gas port formed therein, a bellows diaphragm located in said casing, a diaphragm head secured to said bellows and having a. port formed therein, a spider permanently secured to said head and spanning said port, and means for securing said spider to said casing in register with said casingV port.

2. In combination in a gas meter, a meter Vcasing having a gas port formed therein, aV

diaphragm bellows located in said casing, a diaphragm head secured to said bellows and having a port formed therein, and means including a spider permanently secured to said head for securing said head to said casing with the port of said head in register with the port of said casing, and attaching means carried by said spider for securing said spider and its associated diaphragm head A to said casing.

flo

3. In combination in a gas meter, a meter casing having a gas-delivery port formed therein,a diaphragm bellows located in said casing, a diaphragm head secured to said bellows and having a gas-delivery port formed` therein, a spider rigidly secured to said diaphragm head and spanning said port formed therein, and a screw loosely secured to said spider for securing said spider to said casing and in register with said casing port.

4. In combination in a gas meter, a'casing having a meter chamber formed therein, a bellows diaphragm located in said chamber,

a diaphragm headV secured to said dia-v phragm, a nut soldered to said head and having bolt receiving lugs formed thereon, a flag wire carriage, bolts screwed into said nut for securing said carriage tosaid head, and a iiag wire engaged by `said carriage, said lugs being so located on said nut as to proby kside and separated'by a web'extending .A

at rightangles to said wall, each of said passages terminating in a port Acommunieating respectively with one of said chambers, said ports being arranged-in staggered relation, and on opposite sides of said wall.l

y 6. In combinationin 'a meter, aj meter casing, a partitionv wall extending transversely thereof and dividing the interior ofthe casing into two chambers and provided with two gas passages located :side-by sideiand separated by aA partition extending 'at right angles'to said partition wall, said partition wall having two: separate gasfdelivery ports therein, each port communicating respectively-fwith one vof the passages"- ,A il .7. In combination in a gas meter, ameter casing, apartitionwall extending across said .casing and dividing the interiorthereot into two chambersv and having-two gas passages formed therein and located sidel by side'with relation to the plane or said-wall'y and each terminatingk in af separate: eport,4 'said ports' being located on opposite s'ides ot .said Ywall andeach being offset with-relation'to the other, a separate. bellows ylocatedv iii-(each y chamber, a separate head secured ytoeach bellows and having a port formed. therein, and/means for securing said heads to opposite sides of said 'wall'withtheirports aligned Y and each in registerv with one of; said offset ports'of said partition wall: 8. In 'combination' in a -gas meterfaf meter casing, a partition extendingacross the V'casing, and dividing theL interior 'thereof kinto two metering chambers,` bellows` located in each-chamber, a separate diaphragm headsecured to.each-bellows and having a port formed therein,.said partition being formed toV provide` twogas passages located sideiby thereof anddiv'iding the-'interiorgthere'of 'into' i two metering chambers,,said plartitionfwall beingzrormed to provide gasv passages located sideby side, eacfhterminating in a, Sepa;

rate port communicating respectively with one of said chambers, and a webormed on said wall extending at VrightV angles to the plane of separation of said chambers and intervening between said passages.

l0. In combination, a meter casing, a p artition extending transversely thereof 'and dividing the interior of said casing into two metering chambers, said partition being formed. to provide a gas passage for each chamber and an enlarged port extending laterally from each passage into one of said chambers, a dividing web extending transverse of said partition separating said passages and extending across said p0rts,the` Walls of said ports being arranged in subst'antial alignment, a bellows diaphragm in each chamber having ahead provided with a port' in substantial alignment with said first'named ports, and-means carried by each head and held in assembledfrelation therewith for securing each head lto said web with its port in registry with one of said' first named'ports. o

l1l. In combination7 la meter casing, a partition extending transversely thereof and dividing the interior of said casing into two metering'- chambers and formedV to provide two passages arranged side by'side and en'L larged'outlet ports forsaid passages extending in opposite directions to said chambers, said ports having walls arranged in substantial Valignment,fa web separatingV said passages and said ports,- a separate bellows diaphragm located in 'each of said chambers, a diaphragm head secured to each diaphragm having a port formedV therein, each head being arranged with its'port in registry'with one of said first named ports, a member permanently'secrred 'to eachhead and bridging the port therein', and means held in assembled relation'tosaid member for securing said head tosaid webl with its vport in substantial alignment with one of said iirst named ports. 12. In combination, a meter casinga Wall dividing said casing into a plurality of metering chambers, a separate bellowsH diaphragm in each chamber having'a head provided with a port, the ports inV adjacent chambers facing each other, said casing being provided with a pair of lpassages disposed side by side in the wall separating said chamber and a pair of ports communicating with said head ports the surroundingvwalls of the casing and head ports being substantially in alignment, a dividing wall separating said casing ports, so thateach is in communication with one of said passages, and means held normally in assembled relation to each head for's'ecuring said diaphragm to said wall with its port in registry with a casingport.

I V13. In combination in a gas meter, a meter casing, a partition extending across said casing and dividing the vinterior thereof' into two metering chambers, and having two gas passages formed therein and located side by side with `relation t0 the plane ofsaid partition, and each terminating in a separate port formed in said partition, said portsA being located in staggeredyrelation and on 0pposite sides of said partitiomcoaxial circular flanges formed onopposite sides of said partition, each surrounding one of said ports, a bellows mounted in each chamber,'a separate diaphragm head secured to each bellows and having a central circular port formed therein, a separate-spider on each head and bridging said port formed therein, and means for securing said heads to saidy partition with said spiders in engagement with said circular flanges, said head ports in alignment one with the other and e'ach in direct communication with an offset 'port of saidpartition.

In testimony whereoi,4 I have hereunto subscribed Iny name this 12th day of June, 1923.

- HORACE -CHRISMAN- fics iis

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